Hydro Tasmania is proud to support the National Canoe Slalom Championships at Brady’s Lake this weekend.

 

This event will attract about 60 of the country’s top athletes as well as international paddlers.

 

It will be a national selection race with competitors vying for a chance to represent their country.

 

To support this event Hydro Tasmania will be releasing 19 cumecs of water, or 19 tonnes per second, through the course for the duration of the competition.

 

Acting Director of Wholesale Energy Services, Allan Jones, says while providing clean secure energy is Hydro Tasmania’s first priority, we also take pride in supporting events like this which enrich the lives of Tasmanians.

 

“An intense sport like white-water paddling requires strength, skill, determination and resilience. Those are all qualities that Hydro Tasmania can appreciate and get behind,” he said.

 

“This is the country’s top natural channel slalom course and one of the few in the world where a water authority works this closely with a community canoeing club.

 

“It’s also one of the only natural white-water courses available in the country during summer thanks to the water we release.”

 

This course was first developed in 1970, it’s managed by the Derwent Canoe Club in conjunction with Hydro Tasmania and is used by the Olympic and national teams for training camps twice a year. 

 

Local paddlers Kate Eckhardt, Demelza Wall, Daniel Watkins and George Lazenby are all expected to capitalise on the home ground advantage.

 

“It’s great to be competing in Tasmania and being a local really does have its advantages,” Kate Eckhardt said.

 

“This is such a tough course and it’s great to show the other competitors how good we have it here in Tasmania with a world class training venue like this.” 

 

The National Canoe Slalom Championships take place from the 10th to 13th of January at Brady’s Lake. 

 

Ends.